The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Children’s author Mandanna’s (Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom) adult debut follows Mika Moon, an orphaned witch who finds her place in the world. Mika was raised to keep her magic secret and avoid connecting with other people, especially other witches. All that changes when she accepts a job tutoring three young witches. Narrator Samara MacLaren communicates the novel’s cozy atmosphere, complete with quirky side characters and adorably precocious children. MacLaren deftly captures the movement between Mika’s sunny dialogue and her guarded inner monologue, allowing listeners a glimpse into her pain and insecurity. She instills strong personalities and creates distinct accents for each character, which is impressive, since the characters range widely in age. Listeners will empathize with Mika and hope that she finds happiness in this found-family story. The novel features a light enemies-to-lovers romance and a lyrical, if not in-depth, magical system.